Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Working when not working is still working—happy Tuesday during a quiet-ish week.
-----Latest Data---
Case and death data - I am not sure how the holidays impact reporting. Though I want it to be real, I am not confident in the data demonstrating decreasing case and death rates in the U.S.
Global-View:
https://www.ft.com/content/a2901ce8-5eb7-4633-b89c-cbdf5b386938
Nationally:
https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-chart/?areas=usa&areas=gbr&areasRegional=usny&areasRegional=usca&areasRegional=usfl&areasRegional=ustx&areasRegional=usco&cumulative=0&logScale=0&perMillion=1&values=cases
Also, look at https://covidtracking.com/data
The U.S. Regionally - N.Y. Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
About the data:
https://covidtracking.com/about-data/visualization-guide is the best resource to understand data visualization and data integrity.
Vaccine Tracker!
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/
-----
A loyal reader sent over a risk of spread simulator from a German website. It is very, very well done. Use Chrome and turn on translation (if you don't speak German) - it is worth seeing how different variables (# of people, windows open, sq footage of space) impact the likelihood of viral spread.
https://www.zeit.de/wissen/gesundheit/2020-11/coronavirus-aerosols-infection-risk-hotspot-interiors
JAMA offered this metanalysis, demonstrating the variable amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA is in the air of different hospital spaces. Viable virus was harder to find. As such, the actual airborne transmission rate is hard to know. It does appear that the highest risk is being nearest to infected patients and in shared spaces such as public restrooms and break rooms. This data is interesting, confusing, and reminds us how much risk our hospital-based workforce is assuming in merely going to work.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774463
Some anecdotes from the front lines:
@CleavonMD (the ER doctor) reports on asymptomatic transmission in his family. It is an excellent example of why not seeing your relatives, especially if you love them, is a good thing this year.
https://twitter.com/Cleavon_MD/status/1343403686102528002
And, here is an excellent discussion of systemic racism as it applies to COVID. Dr. Lewis, a neonatologist, discusses her observations of "cumulative deprioritization," minorities, and Dr. Susan Moore's death. Amongst other lessons, this speaks to the impact of unconscious bias.
https://twitter.com/TamorahLewisMD/status/1343329088325476352
Infographic of the day: Spotting Bad Science
I can't believe this Compound Chemistry graphic escaped my notice till now. Print this for your wall!
https://i1.wp.com/www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A-Rough-Guide-to-Spotting-Bad-Science-2015.png?ssl=1
From https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/02/a-rough-guide-to-spotting-bad-science/
Bonus Round --- Sitting on Poles
I was recently reading about Stylites (in the context of some medieval history) and their eponymous founder Simeon Stylite. These were monks who isolated themselves by sitting on pillars or high poles for prolonged periods - like years. The irony (or not irony) is that in seeking spiritual purity through contemplation and isolation, some of these ascetics brought attention and fame to themselves. They were seen as "closer to god" and sought for their wisdom and prayers. Modern readers may approach this with a cynical view, explored (to some degree) in Monty Python's Life of Brian. However, among the numerous imitators of Simeon, I imagine some were pure in their motives. I have a hard time understanding a worldview that drives someone to this sort of life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Stylites
I also learned that in the 1920's U.S., pole-sitting was a means to advertise things, such as Atlantic City businesses.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/up-the-pole-the-strange-phenomenon-of-stylites-ancient-and-modern-1.4097136
I am glad we now have post-modern snark and smart product placement. Here is the 2020 intellectual equivalent of 1920's non-spiritual pole-sitting: KFC-sponsored Lifetime Channel campy romance short film featuring the main character, Harland Sanders, and his mysterious chicken recipe. Sander's secret makes him different, tasty, and desirable (it appears).
https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/a-recipe-for-seduction
Clean hands and sharp minds,
Adam
Working when not working is still working—happy Tuesday during a quiet-ish week.
-----Latest Data---
Case and death data - I am not sure how the holidays impact reporting. Though I want it to be real, I am not confident in the data demonstrating decreasing case and death rates in the U.S.
Global-View:
https://www.ft.com/content/a2901ce8-5eb7-4633-b89c-cbdf5b386938
Nationally:
https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-chart/?areas=usa&areas=gbr&areasRegional=usny&areasRegional=usca&areasRegional=usfl&areasRegional=ustx&areasRegional=usco&cumulative=0&logScale=0&perMillion=1&values=cases
Also, look at https://covidtracking.com/data
The U.S. Regionally - N.Y. Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
About the data:
https://covidtracking.com/about-data/visualization-guide is the best resource to understand data visualization and data integrity.
Vaccine Tracker!
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/
-----
A loyal reader sent over a risk of spread simulator from a German website. It is very, very well done. Use Chrome and turn on translation (if you don't speak German) - it is worth seeing how different variables (# of people, windows open, sq footage of space) impact the likelihood of viral spread.
https://www.zeit.de/wissen/gesundheit/2020-11/coronavirus-aerosols-infection-risk-hotspot-interiors
JAMA offered this metanalysis, demonstrating the variable amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA is in the air of different hospital spaces. Viable virus was harder to find. As such, the actual airborne transmission rate is hard to know. It does appear that the highest risk is being nearest to infected patients and in shared spaces such as public restrooms and break rooms. This data is interesting, confusing, and reminds us how much risk our hospital-based workforce is assuming in merely going to work.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2774463
Some anecdotes from the front lines:
@CleavonMD (the ER doctor) reports on asymptomatic transmission in his family. It is an excellent example of why not seeing your relatives, especially if you love them, is a good thing this year.
https://twitter.com/Cleavon_MD/status/1343403686102528002
And, here is an excellent discussion of systemic racism as it applies to COVID. Dr. Lewis, a neonatologist, discusses her observations of "cumulative deprioritization," minorities, and Dr. Susan Moore's death. Amongst other lessons, this speaks to the impact of unconscious bias.
https://twitter.com/TamorahLewisMD/status/1343329088325476352
Infographic of the day: Spotting Bad Science
I can't believe this Compound Chemistry graphic escaped my notice till now. Print this for your wall!
https://i1.wp.com/www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A-Rough-Guide-to-Spotting-Bad-Science-2015.png?ssl=1
From https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/04/02/a-rough-guide-to-spotting-bad-science/
Bonus Round --- Sitting on Poles
I was recently reading about Stylites (in the context of some medieval history) and their eponymous founder Simeon Stylite. These were monks who isolated themselves by sitting on pillars or high poles for prolonged periods - like years. The irony (or not irony) is that in seeking spiritual purity through contemplation and isolation, some of these ascetics brought attention and fame to themselves. They were seen as "closer to god" and sought for their wisdom and prayers. Modern readers may approach this with a cynical view, explored (to some degree) in Monty Python's Life of Brian. However, among the numerous imitators of Simeon, I imagine some were pure in their motives. I have a hard time understanding a worldview that drives someone to this sort of life.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Stylites
I also learned that in the 1920's U.S., pole-sitting was a means to advertise things, such as Atlantic City businesses.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/up-the-pole-the-strange-phenomenon-of-stylites-ancient-and-modern-1.4097136
I am glad we now have post-modern snark and smart product placement. Here is the 2020 intellectual equivalent of 1920's non-spiritual pole-sitting: KFC-sponsored Lifetime Channel campy romance short film featuring the main character, Harland Sanders, and his mysterious chicken recipe. Sander's secret makes him different, tasty, and desirable (it appears).
https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/a-recipe-for-seduction
Clean hands and sharp minds,
Adam
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